Work stacking mechanism for sewing machines



March 3, 964 c. G. PlCKETT 3,123,931

WORK STACKING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet l un M INVENTOR. Charles G. Pickeff 5 E Ai 'ORNEY March 3,1964 c. 5. PICKETT WORK smcxmc MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug.24, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. Charles G. Pickeff Fig.

AYTORNEY March 3, 1964 0,6. PICKETT 3,123,031

WORK STACKING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 3 mmvron Charles G. Picket) TORNE Y March 3, 1964 c. e.PICKETT WORK STACKING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Aug. 24, 1961 INVENTOR. Charles G. Picker? ORNEY -M 1964 c. G.PICKETT WORK STACKING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Aug. 24, 1961 Fig.8

I mmvroa Charles G. Pickett BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,123,031 WSTACKEQG I iE CHANiSM FUR SEWllNG macnnsas Charles G. licirett, RockawayTownship, N.J., assigor to The Qornpany, a corporation of New HerseyFiled Aug. 24, 1%1, Ser. No. 133,662 17 Claims. (1. 112-2) The presentinvention relates to a work stacking mechanisrn for use with sewingmachines and has for an object to provide such a mechanism which will,with a. minimum of attention on the part of the operator, take a workpiece after the completion of a sewing operation and automatically placethe same on a stack of previously sev 'ed work pieces.

Essentially the mechanism in accordance with this invention consists ofa slotted work support on which the work piece is deposited and amovable platform operable through the slots in the work support to liftthe work piece and transfer it onto a stack. A further feature of thepresent invention is the provision of means for automatically moving thework piece from the sewing machine and onto the slotted work support.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a stacking mechanismthat is economical, dependable and durable.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from anunderstanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices,combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth insuch detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understandthe function, operation, conruction and advantages of it when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view longitudinally of themachine of FIG. 1, and illustrating the means for moving the work piecefrom the sewing machine onto the slotted taoie.

PEG. 3 is a detail sectional View substantially on the line 33 of PEG.2.

PEG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view longitudinally of themachine of PEG. 1, and illustrating the movable platform and thestacking element.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 6 d of PEG.4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of the means for movingthe work piece from the sewing machine onto the slotted table.

8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components for controllingthe operation of the machine.

With eference to the drawings there is illustrated in 1 a sewing machinetable 1 including two pairs of supporting iegs 2. Mounted upon the table1 is a sewing machine 3 that is driven by means of a belt 4 from anelectric power transmitter 5 suspended beneath the table 1. Thetransmitter 5 is controlied by means of a foot treadie a: pivotallymounted on a tube 7 carried by the cross braces of the legs 2 andconnected to the transmitter by a rod 3.

Extending inwardly from the left hand end of the table 1 is a cutout inwhich is mounted a plurality of spaced parailel fngers it? which definein effect a work support having a plurality of open ended, spacedparallel slots and upon which the work piece is to be deposited and fromwhich it is picked up for transfer to the stack.

2 The fingers 10 are carried by a rod 11, FIG. 4, that is secured at itsends to the sides of the cutout 9.

As the work is passed through the sewing machine, it ioves onto theupper surface directly behind the point of stitch formation. To severthe thread chain, there is provided a solenoid actuated thread chaincutter 1.2. mounted on a plate 13 secured on the head of the; machine.The thread chain cutter 12 is automatically actuated as hereinafternoted.

To move the work from the position in which it ends up at after thesewing operation onto the fingers 10 there is provided a transfermechanism 14 carried by a support 15 mounted on the top of the table 1at the rear edge thereof. The mechanism 14 comprises an electric motor16 carried by the support 15 and having a drive shaft 17 extendingthrough the front portion of the support 15. Upon the forward end of thedrive shaft 17 is a block 18 carrying a crank arm 19 which, at its freeend, is pivotally connected to an intermediate point of a rod 20. Therod 20 is slidingly pivoted to the support 15 by a pivot block 21pivoted on the support 15' and having a pair of lugs 22 through whichthe rod 20 slidably extends.

At its lower end the rod 26 carries a pair of links 23 and 24 which arepivotally mounted on the rod 20' at spaced points and which arepivotally connected at their free ends to an arm 25 at equally spacedpoints. A coil tension spring 26 is connected between the links 23 and24 and tends to draw the same together into a stop position that isdetermined by a stop 27. Pivotally mounted on the lower end of the arm25 is a main work engaging foot 28, the under surface of which is coatedwith a material 29 that increases the frictional engagement between thefoot and the work piece. 31? extends forwardly from the arm 25 and haspivotally connected to the free end thereof a depending arm 31 thatextends below the foot 28 and is held slightly inclined downwardly andrearwardly and at its lower end carries a pivotally mounted auxiliaryfoot 32.

With the above mechanism, as the motor 16 drives the crank arm 19 in aclockwise direction, in FIG. 2, the rod 20 is moved downwardly towardsthe work from the full line position. Initially, the auxiliary foot 32engages the work piece. As the arm 25 continues to move downwardly, theauxiliary foot 32 moves rearwardly from the full line to dotted lineposition, FIG. 3, which forces the work piece rearwardly from the pointof stitch formation. The main foot 28 then comes down upon the workpiece and as the crank arm 1% continues to rotate and the rod 24? pivotsabout and slides endwise relatively to the block 21, the foot 28 movesacross the table to move the work piece onto the fingers 10 asillustrated in the dotted line position in FIG. 2. The spring 26 isflexed during this movement and acts to bias the foot 28 toward thetable 1.

Actuation of the motor 16 of the transfer mechanism 14 is initiated by afoot switch 33, FIGS. 4 and 8, mounted upon the tube 7 and adapted to beclosed at will by the operator. Mounted on the block 18 and extending inthe opposite direction from the crank arm 19 is a trip arm 34 thatinitially engages a crank 35 upon a shaft 36 journaled in the support 15and carrying a switch arm 37 adapted to close a switch 38 whichactuates' the thread chain cutter 12. The shaft 36 is biased by atorsion spring 39 into a position in which the switch arm 37 is out ofcontact wit hthe switch 38. The arrangement of these elements is madesuch that the switch 33 is closed to actuate the thread chain cutter12-after the auxiliary foot has engaged the work and moved it rearwardlyrelatively to the point of stitch formation, thereby tensioning tl'iethread chain.

Near the end of the cycle, the trip arm 34'engages Anarm a crank 40 onthe end of a shaft 41 journaled in the support 15. The shaft 41 carriesa trip arm 42 that closes a switch 43, which, as hereinafter more fullyexplained, initiates operation of the next phase of the cycle. The triparm 34 then engages a crank 4-4 on a shaft 45 journaled in the supportand having a trip arm 46 that opens a normally closed switch 47 todeenergize the motor 16 and thereby stop the transfer mechanism 14.

Secured to the underside of the table 1 are a pair of opposed anglemembers 48 and 49 which are arranged longitudinally of the table 1 onopposite sides of the cutout -9 and extend from inwardly of the cutout 9to beyond the end of the table 1. Depending from the angle members 48and 49 are four rectangularly arranged angle members including a pair ofangle members 50 at the free ends thereof and a pair of angle members 51at a point near to the end of the fingers 10. The members 50 and 51 areconnected together at the botom thereof by cross pieces 52 upon which issupported a bottom plate 53. A backing plate 54 is carried by themembers 51.

Extending respectively between the members 48 and 49 and thecorresponding cross pieces 52 are a vertical channel piece 55 and anangle piece 56. A vertically movable plate '57 is disposed within thearea defined by the members 50 and 51 and has a first depending bracket58 having a pair of wheels 59* guided within the flanges of the channelpiece 55 a second depending bracket 61) having a wheel 61 that is guidedby the flange of the angle piece 56. The plate 57 is carried by a pairof chains 62 each running about sprockets 63 on a shaft 64 journaledbetween the members 50 at the top thereof and about sprockets 65 on ashaft 66 journaled between the members 50 at the bottom thereof. Theshaft 66 is adapted to be driven by a reversible electric motor 67connected to the shaft 66 by gears 68 and 69.

The plates 53 and 57 are provided with a plurality of vertically alignedholes 70 and 71 that are designed to accommodate a series of guide rods72 which may be arranged in any manner to suit the configuration of theparticular work piece being stacked. The guide rods 72 are adapted to bethreaded into the holes 70 in the bottom plate 53 and to extend looselythrough the holes 71 in the movable plate 57 to permit movement of theplate 57 relative thereto. The plate 57 has a switch arm 73 mounted onthe underside thereof and adapted to open a normally closed upper limitswitch 74 mounted on the member 49 and a lower limit switch 75 carriedby an arm 76 mounted on the channel piece 55. The switches 74 and 75 areadapted to control the operation of the motor 67 as hereinafter noted.

The transfer mechanism for lifting the work piece from the fingers anddepositing them in a stack on the plate 53 comprises a movable frame 77.The frame 77 is confined to vertical movement by a guide element 78having a pair of wheels 79 disposed in a vertical guide channel 84 in ablock 81 carried by the frame 77 The guide element 78 is confined tohorizontal movement by a pair of wheels 82 carried thereby and disposedin a horizontal guide channel 83 in a guide member 84. The guide member84 is secured at one end to one of the angle members 51 and at the otherend to a depending support 85 secured at its upper end to the member 48and at its lower end to a tube 86 extending between the legs 2. Theframe 77 is thus freely movable longitudinally and vertically relativelyto the table 1 but is confined to a vertical disposition or in otherwords, is held against any turning relatively to the table 1.

Depending from the members 48 and 49 are a pair of opposed guide plates87 each ofwhich is formed with a guide channel 88 that receives a wheel89 journaled on the frame 77 The guide channel 88 includes an upperhorizontal advance run 90, a lower horizontal return run 92, aconnecting descending run 91 and a connecting ascending run 93. Theascending run 93 is formed by a section 94 pivotally mounted on theguide plates 87 at ?5 and biased by gravity against a stop 96. Thesections 94 are deflected by the wheels 89 during the movement thereofalong the return run 9.2 and then fall to the position illustrated inFIG. 4 so that, upon the advance movement of the frame 77, the wheelswill ride up the ascending run 93 onto the advance run The frame 77 isdriven by an electric motor 97 which, through a reduction unit 98,drives a shaft 99 on which is secured a crank arm 104}. The motor 97 ismounted on a plate 1%1 carried by the support 85 and supports 102 and193 which are secured respectively to the member 48 and the tube 86. Thefree end of the crank arm is pivotally connected to one end of a link1104, the other end of which pivotally connected to the frame 77. Thusas the shaft 99 is rotated by the motor 97, the frame 77 is driven fromthe rest position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 4 through anadvance stroke to the dotted line position in FIG. 4 and then through areturn stroke to the full line position. To stop the motor )7 in therest position, the crank arm 1% has a trip arm 105 that engages a crank1136 on a rod 1117 journaled in a bracket 108 carried by the plate 1191.The rod 197 carries a switch arm 169 which engages a normally closedswitch 110 to open the same when the crank 166 is moved by the trip arm1115. A torsion spring 111 biases the rod 107 into 7.

operative position.

A rod 112 is journalled transversely of the frame 77 at the top thereofand carries a plurality of fingers 113 that for the most part aredisposed in a horizontal plane and are parallel and spaced apart in amanner comparable to that of the fingers 10 so they can rise in theslots between the fingers 10. During operation, the fingers 113individually move in vertical planes extending through the slots betweenthe fingers 19 so that, during the advance stroke as the frame 77 rideson the ascending run the fingers 113 rise between the fingers 10 andlift the work piece from the same. The fingers 113 are provided withstops 114 to insure that the work pieces will remain on and movetherewith during the advance stroke thereof.

Near the end of the advance stroke, the fingers 113 move over the topsof the rods 72 and over the movable plate 57. As the frame moves throughthat portion of its stroke defined by the descending run 91, the fingersare lowered into proximity to the plate 57 and between the rods 72 withthe workpiece disposed behind the rods- 72 so that as the frame 77 movesthrough its return stroke, the work piece is engaged by the fingers 72and is slid off the fingers 113 onto the plate 57.

As the work pieces accumulate on the plate 57, the height of the stackincreases. In order to lower the stack so that the fingers 113 canadvance over the same and deposit the next work piece on the topthereof, the rod 112 has a switch arm 115 that engages a switch 116carried by the frame 77. The weight of the fingers 113 normally pivotsthe rod 112 in a direction to move the switch arm 115 away from theswitch 116, that is, counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 4, into a stopposition determined by the engagement of a crank arm 117 on the rod 112against a stop 118. As the frame 77 is lowered on the descending portionof its cycle, the fingers 113 engage the top of the stack and pivot therod 112 in the 7 direction to cause the switch arm 115 to close theswitch 116. The switch 116 energizes the motor 67 to lower the plate 57.The motor 67 is deenergized as soon as the switch 116 is opened so thatthe plate 57 is thus only indexed downwardly a small amount.

A pair of vertically arranged rods 119 are mounted by means of brackets120 on the backing plate 54 for endwise movement relatively thereto.biased upwardly by a coil tension spring 121 and are provided withhorizontal arms 122 which are adapted to receive a pair of wheels 123journaled on the underside of the top portion of the frame. disposedonly a slight distance below the wheels 123 dur The rods 119 are Thearms 122 are normally V ing the advance stroke of the frame 77 so thatthe wheels engage the arms as soon as the frame enters the descendingportion of the cycle and the further downward movement thereof depressesthe rods 119 against the action of the spring 121, thus cushioning thedescent thereof.

As a further means for insuring that the work piece will be slid fromthe fingers 113 as the frame 77 is returned to withdraw the fin ers fromover the plate 57 on which the stack is formed, there may be providedfingers 124 mounted on a rod 125 journaled in brackets 126 mounted onthe members 48 and 49. The rod 125 is formed with a crank arm 127 towhich is pivotally se cured on end of a link 123 pivotally connected atits other end to one end of a lever 12? pivotally mounted at 130 on across piece 131 secured to the members 59 and 51. The other end of thelever 12? is connected by a link 132 to a rod 133 on the rods 119. Therod 133 is guided by means of a slot 134 in a plate 135 on the member51. Thus, as the frame 77 forces the rods 119 downwardly, the rod 125 ispivoted to lower the fingers 124 with the ends thereof disposed over thework piece to hold the same from moving with the fingers 113 as they arewithdrawn. The arms 122 are elongated so that the fingers 124 vwlil beheld in the lowered position during the major portion of the returnmovement of the frame 77.

A second series of rods 136 similar to the rods 72 may be provided toassist in supporting the stack of work pieces on the plate 57.

The sequential actuation of the var-ions elements may be readilyunderstood from FIG. 8. When the operator closes the foot switch 33, themotor 16 or the transfer mechanism is energized. The initial rotation ofthe trip arm 34 releases the crank 54 permitting the normally closedswitch 47 to close. The switch 33 can now be opened and the motor 16will then continue to operate until the switch 47 is opened. Continuedrotation of the trip arm 34- sequentially closes the switch 38 toenergize the solenoid of the thread chain cutter 12, closes the switch43 to initiate actuation of the motor 97, and finally opens the switch47 to stop the motor 16.

When the switch 43 is closed to energize the motor 97, the trip arm M15moves away from the crank 196 and thus permits the switch 116 to closeso that the switch 43 can be opened and the motor 97 will continue tooperate until the switch 11% is opened. At the completion of onerevolution, the trip arm 1%5 engages the crank 1196 and thus opens theswitch 110.

When the stack of work pieces on the plate 57 becomes high enough topivot the fingers 113 and thus close the switch 116, the motor 67 isenerg zed forwardly to lower the plate 57. As soon as the plate 57lowers enough to permit the switch 115 to open, the motor 67 isdeenergized. This process continues until the switch arm '73 on theplate 57 opens the switch 75. The stack is then removed and the plate 57is returned to its uppermost position by reverse rotation of the motor67 which is obtained by throwing a manual switch 137 into the full lineposition in FIG. 8. When the plate 57 reaches its uppermost position,the switch arm '73 opens the switch 74 to stop the motor 67. The switch137 is then returned to its position for normal operation. To preventactuation of the motors 16 and 97 while the plate 57 is being reset,there is provided a relay 138 which is energized when the switch 137 isin the normal operating position, which relay 138 has a set of contacts139 in the line to the motors.

A master on-ofi switch 149 is provided in the line. The switches 137 and14% and the relay 138 are mounted in a box 141 depending from the table1.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein-disclosed will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understoodthat the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of myinvention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to beconstrued as a limitation of the invention. All such modifi- 6 cationswhich do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to beincluded within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:

1. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, awork support on said table for receiving work pieces from said sewingmachine and having a plurality of spaced parallel slots, and means formoving work pieces from said work support and onto a stack comprising aframe having a plurality of parallel fingers disposed in a plane andspaced for movement through the slots in said work support, means formounting said frame on said table for movement of said fingers inparallel planes extending through the slots in said work support andincluding an ascending movement wherein said fingers move from a restposition upwardly through the slots in said work support, an advancemovement wherein said fingers move to a stacking position, and a returnmovement' wherein said fingers move to said rest position, means forimparting said movements to said frame, and means for engaging a workpiece and holding the same against movement with said fingers during thereturn movement of said frame.

2. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, awork support on said table for receiving work pieces from said sewingmachine and having a plurality of spaced parallel slots, and means formoving work pieces from said work support and onto a stack comprising aframe having a plurality of parallel fingers disposed in a plane andspaced for movement through the slots in said work support, means formounting said frame on said table for movement of said fingers inparallel planes extending through the slots in said work support andincluding an ascending movement wherein said fingers move from a' restposition upwardly through the slots in said work support, an advancemovement wherein said fingers move to a position above a surface onwhich the work piece is stacked, a descending movement wherein saidfingers move downwardly onto said surface, and a return movement whereinsaid fingers move to said rest position, means for imparting saidmovements to said frame, and means for engaging a work piece and holdingthe same against movement with said fingers during the return movementof said frame.

3. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, awork support on said table for receiving work pieces from said sewingmachine and having a plurality of spaced parallel slots, a plate on saidtable spaced from said work support and upon which work pieces are to bestacked, and means for moving work pieces from said work support andonto said plate comprising a frame having a plurality of parallelfingers disposed in a plane and spaced for movement through the slots insaid work support, means for mount ng said frame on said table formovement of said fingers in parallel planes extending through the slotsin said work support and including an ascending movement wherein saidfingers move from a rest position upwardly through the slots in saidwork support, an advance movement where in said fingers move to aposition above said plate, and a return movement wherein said fingersmove to said rest position, means for imparting said movements to saidframe, and means for engaging a work piece and holding the same againstmovement with said fingers during the return movement of said frame.

4. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, awork support on said table for receiving work pieces from said sewingmachine and having a plurality of spaced parallel slots, a plate on saidtable spaced from said work support and upon which work pieces are to bestacked, and means for moving work pieces from said work support andonto said plate comprising a frame having a plurality of parallelfingers disposed in a plane and spaced for movement through the slots insaid work support, means for mounting said frame on said table formovement of said fingers in parallel planes extending through the slotsin said work support and including an ascending movement wherein saidfingers move from a rest position upwardly through the slots in saidwork support, an advance movement wherein said fingers move to aposition above said plate, and a return movement wherein said fingersmove to said rest position, means for imparting said movements to saidframe, and means for engaging a Work piece and holding the same againstmovement with said fingers during the return movement of said frame,comprising a plurality of rods extending above said plate and over whichsaid fingers pass during said advance movement and between which saidfingers pass during said descending movement to place the work piecebehind the same.

5. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, awork support on said table for receiving Work pieces from said sewingmachine and having a. plurality of spaced parallel slots, a plate onsaid table spaced from said work support and upon which work pieces areto be stacked, and means for moving work pieces from said Work supportand onto said plate comprising a frame having a plurality of spacedfingers disposed in a plane and spaced for movement through the slots insaid work support, means for mounting said frame on said table formovement of said fingers in parallel planes extending through the slotsin said work support and including an ascending movement wherein saidfingers move from a rest position upwardly through the slots in saidwork support, an advance movement wherein said fingers move to aposition above said plate, and a return movement wherein said fingersmove to said rest position, means for imparting said movements to saidframe, means for engaging a work piece and holding the same againstmovement with said fingers during the return movement of said frame, andmeans for mounting said plate on said table for vertical movement andfor indexing said plate downwardly as the stack of work pieces thereonincreases.

6. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, awork support on said table for receiving work pieces from said sewingmachine and having a plurality of spaced parallel slots, a plate on saidtable spaced from said work support and upon which work pieces are to bestacked, and means for moving work pieces from said work support andonto said plate comprising a frame having a plurality of parallelfingers disposed in a plane and spaced for movement through the slots insaid work support, means for mounting said frame on said table formovement of said fingers in parallel planes extending through the slotsin said work support and including an ascending movement wherein saidfingers move from a rest position upwardly through the slots in saidwork support, an advance movement wherein said fingers move to aposition above said plate, a descending movement wherein said fingersmove downwardly onto said plate, and a return movement wherein saidfingers move to said rest position, means for imparting said movementsto said frame, and means for engaging a work piece and holding the sameagainst movement with said fingers during the return movement of saidframe, and means for mounting said plate on said table for verticalmovement and for indexing said plate downwardly as the stack of workpieces thereon increases.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which said last mentioned meansincludes an electric motor, means for mounting said fingers on saidframe for pivotal movement, and means responsive to the pivotal movementof said fingers upon engagement of said fingers with work pieces on saidplate during said descending movement to actuate said motor and to indexsaid plate downwardly.

8. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, awork support on said table for receiving work pieces from said sewingmachine and having a plurality of spaced parallel slots, and means formoving work pieces from said work support and onto a stack comprising aframe having a plurality of parallel fingers disposed in a plane andspaced for movement through the slots in said work support, means formounting said frame on said table for movement of said fingers inparallel planes extending through the slots in said work support andincluding an ascending movement wherein said fingers move from a restposition upwardly through the slots in said work support, an advancemovement wherein said fingers move to a stacking position, and a returnmovement wherein said fingers move to said rest position, means forimparting said movements to said frame and control means for initiatingoperation thereof and for terminating operation thereof at thecompletion of one cycle, and means for engaging a work piece and holdingthe same against movement with said fingers during said return movement.

9. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, awork support on said table and having a plurality of spaced parallelslots, means for moving work pieces from said sewing machine nad ontosaid Work support, and means for moving work pieces from said worksupport and onto a stack comprising a frame having a plurality ofparallel fingers disposed in a plane and spaced for movement through theslots in said work support, means for mounting said frame on said tablefor movement of said fingers in parallel planes extending through theslots in said work support and including an ascending movement whereinsaid fingers move from a rest position upwardly through the slots insaid work support, an advance movement wherein said fingers move to astacking position, and a return movement wherein said fingers move tosaid rest position, means for imparting said movements to said frame,and means for engaging a work piece and holding the same againstmovement with said fingers during the return movement of said frame.

10. In the combination of claim 9 in which said means for moving workpieces from said sewing machine and onto said work support comprises acyclically operated mechanism, operator actuated means for initiatingoperation thereof, means for automatically terminating operation thereofat the completion of one cycle, means re- I sponsive to the actuation ofsaid mechanism for initiating actuation of said frame, and means forauotmatically terminating operation of said frame at the completion ofone cycle.

11. In the combination of claim 10, a thread chain cutter on said sewingmachine, and means responsive to the operation of said cyclicallyoperated mechanism for actuating said thread chain cutter.

12. In the combination of claim 9 in which said mean for moving saidwork pieces from said sewing machine jnnd onto said work supportcomprises a rod, a rotary crank connected to said rod at an intermediatepoint for imparting circular movement to said rod at said point, meansfor anchoring said rod at a second point, a work engaging foot, andmeans for yieldingly mounting said foot on said rod on the end at theopposite side of said first mentioned point from said second point. 7

13. In the combination of claim 12, operator actuated means forinitiating operation of said crank, means for automatically terminatingoperation thereof at the compleupon said table, a support on said tableand behind said sewing machine, a rod, a rotary crank connected to saidrod at an intermediate point for imparting circular movement to said rodat said point, means for anchoring said rod to said support at a secondpoint, an arm, a pair of substantially parallel links pivotally mountingsaid arm on said rod on the opposite side of said first mentioned pointfrom said second point, spring means biasing said links together, and awork engaging foot carried by said arm.

16. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, asupport on said table and behind said sewing machine, a rod, a rotarycrank connected to said rod at an intermediate point for impartingcircular movement to said rod at said point, means for anchoring saidrod to said support at a second point, an arm, a pair of substantiallyparallel links pivotally mounting said arm on said rod on the oppositeside of said first mentioned point from said second point, spring meansbiasing said links together, and a work engaging foot carried by saidarm, means for initiating operation of said crank, and means forautomatically stopping the same at the completion of one cycle.

17. In combination, a table, a sewing machine mounted upon said table, asupport on said table and behind said sewing machine, a rod, a rotarycrank connected to said rod at an intermediate point for impartingcircular movement to said rod at said point, means for anchoring saidrod to said support at a second point, an arm, a pair of substantiallyparallel links pivotally mounting said arm on said rod on the oppositeside of said first mentioned point from said second point, spring meansbiasing said links together, and a work engaging foot carried by saidarm, an auxiliary foot, means for mounting said auxiliary foot on anddisposed below said work engaging foot and for pivotal movement of saidauxiliary foot away from said sewing machine after said auxiliary foothas engaged at Work piece and as said work engaging foot continues todescend, a thread chain cutter on said sewing means, operator-actuatedmeans for initiating operation of said crank, means for automaticallystopping said crank at the completion of one cycle.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,435,454 De Voe Nov. 14, 1922 1,600,791 Blaine Sept. 21, 1926 2,060,511Learnard et a1. Nov. 10, 1936 2,496,960 Bug-enhagen Jan. 31, 19502,694,372 Hadfield Nov. 16, 1954 2,722,173 Tatosian Nov. 1, 19552,861,805 Auer Nov. 25, 1958 2,909,135 Shoat Oct. 20, 1959 2,935,122Abel et a1. May 23, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3, 123 031 March 3 1964 Charles G Pickett It ishereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected belo* Column 8 line 73, for "a" second occurrence read Signedand sealed this 7th day of July 1964..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissionei' of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER AttcstingOfficer

1. IN COMBINATION, A TABLE, A SEWING MACHINE MOUNTED UPON SAID TABLE, AWORK SUPPORT ON SAID TABLE FOR RECEIVING WORK PIECES FROM SAID SEWINGMACHINE AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL SLOTS, AND MEANS FORMOVING WORK PIECES FROM SAID WORK SUPPORT AND ONTO A STACK COMPRISING AFRAME HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL FINGERS DISPOSED IN A PLANE ANDSPACED FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH THE SLOTS IN SAID WORK SUPPORT, MEANS FORMOUNTING SAID FRAME ON SAID TABLE FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID FINGERS INPARALLEL PLANES EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOTS IN SAID WORK SUPPORT ANDINCLUDING AN ASCENDING MOVEMENT WHEREIN SAID FINGERS MOVE FROM A RESTPOSITION UPWARDLY THROUGH THE SLOTS IN SAID WORK SUPPORT, AN ADVANCEMOVEMENT WHEREIN SAID FINGERS MOVE TO A STACKING POSITION, AND A RETURNMOVEMENT WHEREIN SAID FINGERS MOVE TO SAID REST POSITION, MEANS FORIMPARTING SAID MOVEMENTS TO SAID FRAME, AND MEANS FOR ENGAGING A WORKPIECE AND HOLDING THE SAME AGAINST MOVEMENT WITH SAID FINGERS DURING THERETURN MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME.
 15. IN COMBINATION, A TABLE, A SEWINGMACHINE MOUNTED UPON SAID TABLE, A SUPPORT ON SAID TABLE AND BEHIND SAIDSEWING MACHINE, A ROD, A ROTARY CRANK CONNECTED TO SAID ROD AT ANINTERMEDIATE POINT FOR IMPARTING CIRCULAR MOVEMENT TO SAID ROD AT SAIDPOINT, MEANS FOR ANCHORING SAID ROD TO SAID SUPPORT AT A SECOND POINT,AN ARM, A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LINKS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAIDARM ON SAID ROD ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED POINT FROMSAID SECOND POINT, SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID LINKS TOGETHER, AND A WORKENGAGING FOOT CARRIED BY SAID ARM.